« on: September 16, 2010, 02:29:37 PM »
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/27203/auburns-defense-facing-new-challengeAuburn's defense facing new challenge
September, 16, 2010
Sep 16
2:04
PM ET
By Chris Low
They were grumbling about Auburn defensive coordinator Ted Roof after the first game.
They were lauding Roof and his Auburn defense after the second game.
Welcome to life in the SEC, especially on the side of the ball that wins championships in this league.
“There’s a lot of experts out there,†Roof quipped after his Auburn defense stopped Mississippi State in its tracks last Thursday in a 17-14 victory against the Bulldogs.
Winning on the road was noteworthy enough for the Tigers. But riding the coattails of the defense to a win was even more important.
It’s proof that this defense can indeed hold up its end of the bargain even when Auburn’s high-powered offense hits a few potholes.
Auburn held Mississippi State to a total of 73 yards on its final five drives, and at one point, forced the Bulldogs into three straight three-and-outs.
It was reminiscent of the Auburn defenses of old and the kind of defense that Gene Chizik – who’s been around his share of good defenses – wants to become the standard on the Plains … again.
This Saturday’s game against Clemson may be the truest indication yet of where this Auburn defense really is, especially with Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker’s ability to throw the ball and also scramble around and make plays.
Auburn was hurt by the underneath passing game in its season-opening 52-26 win against Arkansas State, which rolled up 323 passing yards and 22 first downs.
Parker, who elected to play one more season of college football before turning his attention full time to pro baseball, will also look to peck away, but he’ll also take his shots down the field.
Chizik said Parker is the closest thing to an NFL quarterback that Auburn has seen this season.
“He's very poised,†Chizik said. “He's got all of the things that you look for in a pro quarterback, just in terms of how he manages the team and manages the offense. He makes some really great throws and puts the ball right where it needs to be. He has a great touch on the ball.
“That's part of being a great quarterback, (knowing) when to pull off some throws and when to zip it in there. He has a great touch on deep balls. He's just really poised and you can tell he's been doing it and he loves the game. He’s very good at what he does.â€
Auburn is also braced to see some things it hasn’t to this point on tape from Clemson, which breezed in its first two games against outmanned opponents.
“We're anticipating them showing a lot more,†Chizik said. “I think that's just what comes with that. At the end of the day, they still come down to the base things that they do. They might hide it a little bit more in terms of we may see two or three new wrinkles on how they get to different things. But at the end of the day, the nuts and bolts of what they do are going to be in place.â€
Auburn might also have a little bit more depth at linebacker after Josh Bynes played every snap against Mississippi State. Fellow senior Craig Stevens has been suspended the first two games, but there’s hope he’ll be back for Saturday's game.
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